Birmingham's Gary McSheffrey will put the "great respect" he has for Wigan duo Steve Bruce and Eric Black on hold for 90 minutes on Saturday.McSheffrey initially played under Black at Coventry and then later at Birmingham, where he was number two to Bruce.

He scored 17 goals last season to play a major part in City regaining their top flight status at the first attempt but is well aware of the importance of the forthcoming Premier League meeting with Latics, who are just one point in front of fourth from bottom Birmingham.

McSheffrey said: "I've a lot of respect for Steve and Eric. They are top blokes, good human beings first and foremost, and it will be nice going to their place and seeing them.

"I speak to Eric occasionally. He is quite local to me and I know him from Coventry.

"But we will be going there with a job to do and they will be thinking the same about us so for 90 minutes we won't be friends.

"It is a big game for both teams. Friendship and respect will be put to one side for 90 minutes. There are three points to be won and we want them."

McSheffrey has not had the most successful of seasons but no-one could ever question his commitment or mental toughness, as demonstrated when scoring a crucial penalty in last Saturday's 3-1 win over Manchester City at St Andrews.

He said: "In an ideal world, if you had asked me what I wanted from the outcome of this season, it would have been 15 goals and Blues being comfortably halfway up the Premier League.

"But it doesn't always work out like you want. Sometimes you have to work hard for what you get.

"It has certainly been the case for myself and the lads this season. If you keep putting the effort in, eventually you get your reward and I got some against Man City."

McSheffrey believes last weekend's results, including Bolton's home defeat against

Arsenal, could have a crucial bearing on the final outcome this season.

He said: "We got back in the changing room, saw the results on the TV and everyone was buzzing. People say 'concentrate on your own game' but you can't help but look at other results at this stage of the season.

"Those were crucial points on the board for us last weekend and a few results went our way. Considering we heard Bolton were leading and Arsenal had 10 men, that was a hell of a result for us."

More Football News from TEAMtalk